Mary Lou returning to Laois on Thursday with Sinn Féin out in force ...

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald will return to Portlaoise on Thursday as she continues to rally support for General Election candidate in Laois Maria McCormack.

It is the second time in three weeks for Maria to be joined by her party leader after Mary Lou came to Laois to endorse the Sinn Féin candidate at an event in the Killeshin Hotel.

The day’s proceedings will begin on Thursday morning in the National Learning Network on the Dublin Road before convening in St Mary’s Hall for the main event.

The Sinn Féin leader is poised to discuss the lack of sports facilities in the county and has chosen the heart of the issue in recent times – St Mary’s Hall – as an appropriate venue.

The event is expected to last from 10.30am to 12pm.

Afterwards, Mary Lou and Maria are off to Lyster Square to meet first-responders, before they take a walk down Main Street.

Before all that, Sinn Féin TD David Cullinan will be speaking at 11am on Wednesday in the Midlands Park Hotel.

The Waterford TD will be joined by both Maria McCormack as well as Sinn Féin MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Pat Cullen.

Deputy Cullinan is Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Health; Pat Cullen MP is a former Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing; and Maria McCormack is a healthcare professional.

The event will see Sinn Féin launch their health care policy, specific to County Laois, with a brief presentation followed by a discussion and a questions-and-and-answers session with the panel.

SEE ALSO – On the Canvass: Maria McCormack on the march for Sinn Fein in Laois